The Ugly Secret

"The horse industry's ugly secret"
Your Nation and You
The Augusta Free Press 09-24-2004
by Stephen Winslow

Horse owners are appalled. Horse organizations don't support it. The American public cringes at the mere suggestion of the issue. It takes place illegally in the state of Texas. Politicians have created bipartisan legislation to put a stop to it. However, it continues to be an ugly reality in the horse industry. What is it? Horse slaughter for human consumption.

The issue is about to become very public. The horse-racing industry is headed to Texas for an annual event that will draw hundreds of thousands of onlookers and participants. Unfortunately, the racing industry is choosing to allow the public to witness one of their largest events and stones throw from an illegal Texas slaughterhouse.

Breeders Cup Rally 2004
The Breeders Cup is the premier event of the thoroughbred racing season. Owners and trainers send their horses from all over the world to compete, and the prize money amounts to millions, not to mention the value it adds to the stud and broodmare fees of the winners.

The Breeders Cup rotates among racetracks around the country, much like the Super Bowl and All-Star Game are held at different stadiums every year. This year The Breeders Cup is in Texas. This prestigious event has been awarded to of all places - Lone Star Park - just miles from the Dallas Crown and Beltex horse-slaughter plants, where thousands of horses, including many thoroughbreds, continue to tragically and terrifyingly meet their deaths.

No rational defense
For those few that support inhumane and sadistic slaughter of horses, there is no rational defense. They cannot speak of popular support because that does not exist. They cannot speak of political support because more than 220 congressmen are cosponsoring HR 857, which would prevent horse slaughter for human consumption in the U.S.

The argument that slaughtering horses saves them from a terrible demise holds no water. Abuse claims rise only when horse-slaughter plants are opened and allowed to operate. Additionally, horse theft increases as slaughter havens thrive.

The proof is in the numbers. Statistics clearly state that abuse claims and theft have consistently increased is states like Illinois (home of the Cavel Plant) and Texas.

In California the numbers in both categories decreased after the state closed that plant.

One man denies the will of the people
Elected officials in this representative republic that we call the United States have a responsibility to represent the desires of the people whenever possible.

However, Rep. Bob Goodlatte, R-Sixth District, blatantly ignores such expectations. Apparently, he does not feel that his constituency has the right to be heard. Nor does Goodlatte concern himself with responsible, ethical government. Instead he chooses to define law according to the Goodlatte view of the world. He either has a God complex or a personal agenda that he refuses to make clear.

What is clear is that Congressman Goodlatte, a career politician, is the head of the House Agricultural Committee, and he refuses to let HR 857 come to the House floor for a vote. He has told many people that he never intends on letting this bill come to vote, and he plans to do everything possible to prevent it from happening. He plans to kill this bill just as he plans to support the continued ruthless killing of horses for human consumption. His actions make him a cheerleader for the practice of bludgeoning of horses, the crushing of their skulls and the cutting of their throats for live hang purposes.

That is what this congressman supports. Frankly, I could care less what he feels is right. If he is gutless enough to choose inhumane destruction of companion animals over standing up to those Texas farmers that support horse slaughter while contributing money to his campaign, then so be it. However, to have the audacity to abuse his power as a committee chair so that no vote can take place on the House floor constitutes a political atrocity that should eliminate him from the privilege of holding office.

While you are watching The Breeders Cup, be sure to visualize each losing horse on a cold concrete floor, its listless body twitching as the thick red river of death surrounds this once majestic beast, and picture the meat hooks rising above the flood as it lifts the once proud servant to man to its final resting place. With each drop of blood, we shatter the innocence of humane and decent existence and replace it with heartless greed so grand as to stupefy the human mind.

In the end, one man paints that picture for us. Congressman Bob Goodlatte proudly surveys the wasteland he creates. He is the meat hook, and we are left to ponder what is left of humanity when the bankrupt, self-righteous ideologies of a congressman allow him to dictate to the people what life must look like.

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